Earl of Sandwich is returning to the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort

Jan 10, 2023 in "Disneyland Resort"

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Earl of Sandwich

Posted: Tuesday January 10, 2023 7:04pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Earl of Sandwich will be returning to the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort in February 2023.

Soon you can once again look forward to one of their hot sandwiches on artisan bread, with grab-and-go options at Earl of Sandwich or table service options at Earl of Sandwich Tavern, both of which will be temporarily located at the La Brea Bakery location.

La Brea Bakery is exiting the restaurant business after 20 years at Disneyland's Downtown Disney.

Disney says more details on the return of Earl of Sandwich will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Nirya8 days ago

Portos buildings are usually pretty big, not sure why they aren't targeting the old ESPNZone building for Portos, especially if you could also work out a deal to then put some of the pastries into the park as well.

jmuboy8 days ago

Honestly, I was never quite certain how a Porto was going to fit in the old bakery building building. I know they were going to tear it down and rebuild it. I always thought a larger building in this footprint would totally look out of place. The small ones almost ranch style house building that has been there since 2001 with a very park like patio on the left-hand side just helps transition from downtown Disney into the Esplanade nicely. I was actually sad to lose that aesthetic. If Earl sandwich ends up, returning to a permanent operation in the old La Brea building, I would be perfectly happy.

mickEblu9 days ago

Makes sense. A half a dozen donuts cost me $10 the other day at a hole in the wall. Donuts aren’t even cheap anymore. The ice cream truck at our local park charged me $5 for my sons popsicle. He’s also smart and doesn’t put the prices on the outside so he can change prices depending on the area he’s in.

TP20009 days ago

Financing for that sort of thing by a modest mid-sized business can be very tricky, especially now with higher interest rates and banks scared about the crashing commercial real estate market. Unless you can self finance, and Porto's likely can't, the high rent rates that Disney charges for Downtown Disney can be prohibitive to getting financing in the current economic environment. It would've penciled out in 2015, but not now. I wonder if Disney would consider reducing rents to help attract a well-aimed selection of dining options? Disney might need to lower their profit estimates for Downtown Disney rental rates for at least the next 5 years until the commercial real estate market can stabilize itself.

TP20009 days ago

That's fascinating! I had no idea there was one with a ride. How odd. And how dumb to spend the money for it to turn out like that. Both of their faces on their title cards look exactly like real life when you were told as an adult "We are going to dinner at Rainforest Cafe". 🤣

Homemade Imagineering9 days ago

Cancun closed in 2010

KeithVH9 days ago

I think Rainforest had an unsustainable business model. Too many variations on a theme that could not be accommodated. Not that they were all bad. I remember they had a program at the Mall of America store back in the late 90s. My one daughter spent a whole day with their bird caretakers (behavioral stuff, showing the birds to customers, etc). For a pre-teen, great stuff. Nowadays, as has been said, you get microwaved meals.

J45469 days ago

I kinda think they should relocate the Rainforest Cafe in AK to the conservation station area or somewhere else, it just doesnt fit the area its in right now imo.

Consumer9 days ago

I remember going to the Rainforest Cafe in roughly 2003. We didn't eat anything there, I just remember seeing the snake above the entrance. We were at the Disneyland Resort because one of my parents' friends was getting married at the Disneyland Hotel. I also remember seeing the old Neverland pools. My stronger memories come from the Rainforest Cafe at the Woodfield Mall in Chicago. Again, we never ate there, but I remember the crocodile outside the entrance. The best thing to happen to Downtown Disney and it doesn't even happen. Disney is in shambles.

mickEblu9 days ago

Is the Rainforest Cafe in Cancun still there? I forgot I went to that location too. Also in 2000. Wow 2000 was a big year for me with Rain Forest Cafe. Must not have left a great impression considering I walked right past the DTD location over a hundred times.

Nirya9 days ago

The end of the Margaritaville episodes from Burback is so good when he reveals the surprise stop in Vegas.

mickEblu9 days ago

So Micechat is reporting that Porto’s might not be moving into DTD after all. Apparently they’ve been hearing rumors from Earl and Porto’s employees.

PiratesMansion9 days ago

100%, and interesting how their opinions essentially reversed in the Margaritaville excursion. Agree that watching both videos adds even more to the experience.

Nirya9 days ago

Yeah, that was Ted Nivison and Eddy Burback, and their videos are fantastic to watch back-to-back. (Hilariously enough, they followed this up last summer by going to every Margaritaville in the country, including the resorts).